Observers' Field Reports 169 



through the sand-hill country, spinifex rats (a variety of kangaroo-rat) and bandicoots 

 were common. On the lake shore they often made their homes in deserted ant-hills. 



North of Lake Disappointment, No. 21 Well to No. 24 Well, there had been recent 

 rains, bringing up fresh herbage on which the camels fed well. This was fortunate, as 

 otherwise there was little else but spinifex. Tracks of natives were seen, and at No. 22 

 Well our camp was visited at night by their dogs. Between No. 22 Well and No. 25 

 Well the typical breakaways again were common and quartz reefs were seen. The 

 country is said to be auriferous. Sunday, July 5, was spent at Karara Soaks, No. 24 

 Well, where the feed was very good. At this place there were numerous worn stones 

 used by the natives in grinding grass and wattle seed. The sand-hills on the north 

 side of Lake Disappointment were remarkably long, high, and parallel, and the sweep 

 of the surface between them made a remarkably regular curve. 



At No. 27 Well we surprised a native woman, who immediately fled. Tracks of 

 others were visible over all the country. At No. 28 Well we again surprised a party of 

 blacks, two gins (women) and two piccaninnies, who also fled, leaving behind all their 

 goods, including a large number of recently caught bandicoots. Next morning, how- 

 ever, as we left camp, three men and a boy appeared. They had left their spears be- 

 hind, and to show their innocent intentions, called out "Poorfellow," "Nothing sulky 

 fellow." Nipper went over and held limited converse with them and distributed 

 some tobacco among them. They appeared much more intelligent than the first band, 

 seen at No. 10 Well. After a while, they disappeared, but were soon seen again fol- 

 lowing us with the gins we had seen the previous day and hunting as they came along. 

 At night, they camped near us at No. 29 Well. The following day I warned them not 

 to follow us. It is not safe to let them learn one's habits. 



Nos. 30 and 31 Wells were on a limestone flat where the feed and the going were 

 both good. At No. 33 Well there were traces of a large camp of blacks where a "cor- 

 roboree," as their meetings for tribal ceremonies are called, had evidently been held. 

 From here on, tracks were seen every day, and there were old camps at nearly all the 

 wells. Sand-hills and spinifex were again predominant from No. 32 Well to No. 37 

 Well, with frequent groves of oaks and occasional clay-pans between the sand-hills. 



Our approach was everywhere heralded by fires, which were probably warning 

 signals made by the natives to one another. At No. 37 Well is the grave of Messrs. 

 Thompson and Shoesmith, the first men to attempt to traverse the route with cattle. 

 They and one of their black boys were killed while asleep, and found later by Mr. Cole, 

 who was following with another herd of cattle. Sunday, July 19, was spent at Warda- 

 bunna Rock-Hole, No. 38 Water, in a small gorge, on a low rubbly range. Natives 

 were camped quite close, their dogs being continually around our camp, so that special 

 precautions were taken. 



From No. 38 Well to No. 40 Well difficult sand-hills again alternated with lake 

 surface and clay-pans. The track was scarcely discernible. At No. 40 Well is the 

 grave of M. Tobin, who, while on Mr. Canning's expedition, was speared by a native. 

 A "corroboree" had been held recently at No. 41 Well, where we saw the first evidence 

 of wanton damaging of a well by natives. 



The sand-hill country continued to the region of the Sturt Creek at No. 51 Well. 

 Between No. 43 Well and No. 46 Well, however, we encountered the worst part of the 

 trip, and for two nights the camels had to be tied down without feed, to prevent their 

 wandering uselessly. On a lake beyond No. 45 Well, good feed was again found, how- 

 ever, and thereafter it was always fair. Flocks of galahs and gray pigeons were seen 

 at most of the wells, and they were often used to vary our menu. At No. 45 Well 

 more natives were seen, who were acquainted to some extent with the white man. I 

 forbade them, however, to follow us far, though they appeared quite friendly. 



